Weekends away on the Western Cape (and how to satisfy a grounded traveler)

Weekends away on the Western Cape (and how to satisfy a grounded traveler)

I have to admit…after traveling around the world the past year and a half, constantly being on the go and experiencing newness, I have found myself addicted to the thrill of moving around. It’s a high unlike any other that brings on a special type of bliss. Travel is- among a million other things- addicting.
After staying so long in one country I find myself pining to see/do/experience more.
Often, I’ve missed the international flights, the various foreign languages (English is one of the official languages in South Africa), and newness around me. It sounds silly because I am still, in fact, in a country that’s not my own. The difficult part is the standing still after moving so fast for so long. The abnormal speed at which I was experiencing new people, places and things directly prior to my time in South Africa, lead me to feel like a race car driver who just finished a race and got out the car, stepping onto still ground, moving all too slow in the aftermath.In short, I became a travel junkie this year, and staying still for a couple months has left me with itchier feet than ever.
Luckily for me (and my itchy feet), there are countless places to see within driving range from Cape Town- my new home away from home.
I’m blown away each time by all this country has to offer.South Africa truly is stunning…and I haven’t even seen it all yet. You could live here forever and not see everything.
So far, here are my favorite weekend getaways in the Western Cape of South Africa that keep my wanderlust (aka my soul) satisfied. ☺️ Franschoek….Because, well wine.

With hundreds of wine farms, you may need more than one weekend here.

Hermanus- the quiet beaches you dream about. Sutherland…a place to see ALL the stars. Looks like we’re headed to the middle of no man’s land, right? That’s because we were- and that’s the point. People travel from all over to see this little town where the land is flat and undisturbed, making for some of the best star gazing in the South Africa. I won’t lie, the town itself is nothing to write home about…but when the sun goes down and the stars come out, it’s absolutely stunning. I felt incredible peaceful and quiet. It was grounding to be in Sutherland for the weekend. Hout Bay…because your drive in looks like this.

Chapman’s Peak Drive

Simon’s Town

Boulder Beach, Simon’s Town

Beautiful, beachy and fun. Oh, and there are penguins on the beach. YES, I said PENGUINS and BEACH in the same sentence. Stellenbosch West Coast National Park

Namaqualand butterfly for a day!

St. James Beach
The lesson to learn here?
When you can’t take your “dream trip” – no matter where you are in the world- create a local trip or getaway of sorts to quell your need for speed.
Always, always, always continue to explore.

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On August 14th, 2015 I left my life in the United States behind with the intention to never look back. I had the "American Dream" and I woke up from it, to create a new reality for myself. I sought out beauty in a world that was increasingly dark for me at the time and ended up finding more than I bargained for. With only a backpack, I traveled across Europe, South East Asia and then on to Africa. With over 30 countries stamped in my passport, I've become an entirely new version of myself with a broader perspective on what it means to be a woman in today's world. My hope is that by sharing my stories and featuring women like me from around the world, we can inspire others to break down their own internal barriers and go cross a few international borders while they're at it. I truly believe travel can be healing to a troubled soul, empowering to the lost and rejuvenating for the exhausted. Perspective is everything, and I believe in the power of "going global," what about you? SheGoesGlobal.net is a site that started out with my stories and grew into a platform for women all around the world to tell their travel tales of trials and triumph. We all believe that the more you see of the world, the better you can be as a person who inhabits it. Women encouraging other women to grow, travel, evolve- that's what SGG is all about. ---> Read my very first blog post (see "Archives" for August 2015) to learn how this all began.

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6 Comments

What is Heather Ditmars and “she goes global” doing next? is she going to be wedlocked? is she still going global and sharing her experiences with the world, (I’ve learned atleast 19 things from reading your blogs, ) what’s next your viewers care and it’s what we’re thinking about….. Thanks for showing us Cape Town, which I will be visiting but what’s next….. or is she done going global?